Government hikes pension for 'martyrs' of 'Maha-K' taka border dispute

Mumbai: The family members of "martyrs" of Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute agitation will get a rise of Rs 2,000 in monthly pension.The monthly pension for them will be Rs 10,000, as per a government resolution (GR) issued on Wednesday.

The state government had in 1997 decided to provide pension of Rs 1,000 per month to the kin (widow and either of the parent) of those who died in Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute agitation. They were given facilities and benefits accorded to freedom fighters.

The people who died in the agitation, including those from Marathi-speaking areas on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, were given status of martyrs and the monthly pension was increased to Rs 1,500 in 1999, as per the GR.

It was decided that their pension would be increased as and when the pension for freedom fighters is hiked.

Since 2011, the martyrs' kin were given pension of Rs 8,000 with retrospective effect from 2010. From 2014, the state government increased the pension for freedom fighters by Rs 2,000, making it Rs 10,000 per month.

Accordingly, the pension for those who died in the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute has also been hiked by Rs 2,000, taking it to Rs 10,000 per month. The hike would be implemented with effect from October 2, 2014, the GR added.